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1 Superintendent Proc Online Learning Approved by: -""" "'------"'1-----= Date: /.2-1';";/ Dr. Susan En eld, Interim Superintendent This procedure outlines the manner in which Seattle Public Schools will allow students to take courses via online learning opportunities. This procedure applies to students taking approved online courses or participating in approved online programs for which the district is counting the student's time for enrollment reporting purposes or for which the student will be seeking high school credit. Courses for which no credit is sought and no state funding is requested are taken at the discretion ofthe student and family and are unrelated to Seattle Public Schools. A. Definitions Online Courses: Online School Program: Online Learning Support Team: An "online course" is one in which more than halfofthe content is delivered online and more than halfofthe instruction is delivered online by a teacher from a different location than that ofthe student. An "online school program" is delivered by a school district or cooperative ofschool districts, and provides an online, comprehensive and sequential program of courses or grade-level coursework and instruction in which more than halfofthe program is delivered online and more than half ofthe instruction is delivered online by a teacher from a different location than that of the student. The "online learning support team" is district/school staffwho will provide assistance to the student in accessing courses, understanding coursework and maintaining successful progress in the course. B. StudentAccess to Online Courses and Online School Programs The district will facilitate access to the following types ofonline learning opportunities, to the extent they are available and meet Seattle Public Schools standards for college-ready courses: 1. Online courses: a. OSPI-approved online courses created and taught by third-party course providers; Page 1 ofs

2 b. District-taught online courses created by a third-party contracted provider; and c. District-created and taught online courses 2. Online school programs: a. District-createdand -taughtonlineschool programs; b. District-sponsored programs created and taught by third-party course providers; c. District-sponsored programs created by third-party course providers and taught by district teachers; and d. Out-of-district online school programs accessed through an interdistrict transfer C. Types ofonline Courses Available ' 1. Credit recovery courses allowing students to make up failed credits needed for graduation; 2. Courses which may already be offered in the student's school but are inaccessible to the student due to scheduling issues or similar factors; 3. Courses not available at the student'sschoolthat meet four-year college entrance requirements; 4. Remedial, standard-level or advanced level courses meeting high school graduation requirements; and 5. Remedial, gradelevelandadvancedlevel courseworkfor K-8 students D. Student Eligibility Criteria The district will facilitate access to online learning courses and programs for students enrolled in grades 6-12; students below grade 6 may be permitted to enroll in online learning courses with the permission ofthe family, teacher, and school principal. Students taking an online course or participating in a district-created online school program must adhere to the following criteria: 1. Have completed any required prerequisites and provide teacher/counselor recommendations to confirm that he/she possesses the academic level needed to function effectively in an onlinelearning environment; 2. Comply with existing district policies for registering/enrolling in an online course or district program, including completing the grade-appropriate equivalency course ofstudy form, found in each school's main office or the counseling office; 3. Students interested in attending an online school program in another district must follow dual enrollment protocol prior to entering that program. Only high school students are eligible for dual enrollment. Students who enroll in online, Remedial courses may be appropriate for some students to briug them up to grade-level skills. The decision to enroll a student in a remedial course should be made jointly between the student's family, teacher and/or counselor, with approval bythe Principal or designee. Page 2 ofs

3 school programs in another district are not considered Seattle Public School students for the coursework taken via the online school program; and 4. The online course or program must not conflict with or disrupt the student's schedule. At the middle school level this includes the first and last class periods ofthe day; at high school a student mayhave late arrival orearlydismissal, and therefore online work could include those class periods. E. SupportingStudent Success The district will provide thefollowing support to students to help ensure a successful online learning experience: 1. All online students will receive assistancefrom the local onlinelearningsupport team-assistance may be provided online, rather than in-person; 2. The counselor, principal, or other district staff may advise students in selecting and registering for online learning options to which the district facilitates access; 3. The local advisor or online learning support team will meet regularly with online students to ensure they are connecting to the online coursework and online teacher and are making satisfactory progress in their online coursework; 4. The district may offer a dedicated class period during the school day in which the student may connect to an online course and to their local advisor and may offer access to online computers during the school day for outside courses taught or facilitated by the district, or for courses developed and taught/facilitated by the district; it is the student's/family's responsibility to identify out-of-school time and computer access for courses that do not fall under this definition. F. Costs/Fees 1. Courses offered to students for which the district claims state education funding or that are included as part ofthe legally-required annual minimum instructional hour offering will be paid for by the school district. Students/families may be responsible for fees as specified byschool Board Policy D8S.oo and procedure D8S.o1. These are courses that are considered part of a school's master schedule or are otherwise courses offered by the district orby the individual school. 2. Courses offered to students for which the district claims no state education funding and that are not included as part ofthe legally-required annual minimum instructional hour offering will be paid for by students/families, including any course fees. 3. As permitted by financial limitations, courses that are taken at a high school for credit recovery purposes may be funded by the school. G. Granting ofhigh School Credit for Online Courses 1. Credit for online courses will be granted in the same manner as other course offerings in the district. This includes granting high school credit for certain courses taken online at the middle school level, per Board Policy D1S.00. Cross Reference: Policy No. 2024; ClS.OO; DiS.OO; D8S.00; D8S.0l Page 3 ofs

4 2. Currently enrolled students must seek approval and complete the equivalency course ofstudy form prior to enrolling in an online course provided outside ofthe district. Approval ofthe equivalency course ofstudy form by the school will identify the terms under which the student may receive credit for the course. 3. For students transferring credit from online courses or programs taken while enrolled outside ofthe district, credit will be granted according to the district transfer credit requirements. 4. For eligible courses, ifcourse credit is earned, the course will be recorded on the transcript using the standardized identifier for online courses provided in the Comprehensive Education Data Research System (CEDARS). 5. No more than eight (8) online learning credits can be obtained for high school graduation purposes. 6. Grades or credit will not be added to transcripts until an official transcript has been received from the online institution. H. Information to Students and Parents or Guardians The district will use a variety ofmethods to provide information to parents/guardians and students regarding online learning opportunities. Information maybeprovidedthrough the districtweb page, counselingoffice brochures, newsletters, the student handbook and other appropriate district communication resources. Information provided will include descriptions ofonline courses or online school programs, enrollment information, potential fees, a description ofcredit awarded for courses, student eligibility requirements, methods the district will use to support student success and the fact that no more than eight (8) online credits can count towards high school graduation. I. Student Responsibilities 1. Must seek approval and complete the equivalency course ofstudy form prior to enrolling in an online course. 2. Adhere to the district's code ofconduct for academic integrity and all rules outlined in the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook. 3. Comply with course/program participation and completion requirements. 4. NotifY the district ifparticipation in an online course/program ceases or changes. 5. Maintain agreed-upon levels and kinds of communication with the local advisor throughout the term ofthe online course. 6. Participate in an online course/program orientation if available. J. Parent or Guardian Responsibilities 1. Parents or guardians are responsible for costs/fees as outlined in Section F. Page 4 ofs

5 I 2. Parents orguardians are responsible for providing appropriate technology for participationin anycourseworkfor which the districtdoes not provide technology. K. District Responsibilities 1. Inform parents/guardians prior to student enrollment in any online course or program. 2. Inform staff, parents/guardians and students ofthe online courses and programs that are available to them. 3. Inform staff, parents/guardians and students ofthe online course/online school program prerequisites, technology requirements, course outlines, syllabi and possible fees. 4. Inform staff, parents/guardians and students of how to seek and access technology resources andtechnological requirementsbeyond the school day. 5. Provide online students with an online learning support team. 6. Ensure communication between the student's local advisor and parent/guardian. 7. Ensure online courses are appropriately identified with CEDARS coding. 8. Thedistrict will informstudents andtheir parent/guardian ofrescheduling options or grade impacts in the event a student withdraws from an online course or online school program prior to completion. Cross Reference: Policy No. 2024; CiS.00; DiS.oo; D8S.00; D8S.oi Pages ofs